Blueprints and Construction Drawings: A Universal Language 21
2.4 TYPES OF BLUEPRINTS.
Types of Construction Drawings.
Providing accurate construction drawings up front helps ensure that construction projects will proceed
in an orderly manner, reducing costly and time-consuming rework by contractors and subcontractors
down the line. Construction drawings are generally categorized according to their intended purpose.
Types commonly used in construction may be divided into five main categories based on the function
they intend to serve:
- Preliminary drawings
- Presentation drawings
- Working drawings
- Shop/assembly drawings
- Specialized and miscellaneous drawings
Preliminary-Design and Concept Drawings.
At the initial promotional stages of a project, the architect or designer often prepares preliminary sketches,
which are essentially schematic design/concept-development drawings. These provide a convenient and
practical basis for communication between the designer and the owner in the idea formulation stage. Dur-
ing the design phase, these drawings go through many alterations, helping the client to determine the
most aesthetically attractive and functional design. These drawings are not meant for construction but
rather for exploratory purposes, providing an overall concept that reflects the client’s needs, as well as
functional studies, materials to be used, preliminary cost estimates and budget, preliminary construction
approvals, etc. Preliminary drawings are also typically used to explore with other consultants concepts re-
lating to the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems to be provided. These are followed by formal
design-development drawings prior to the working-drawing or construction-document stage.
Presentation Drawings.
The purpose of presentation drawings is to present the proposed building or facility in an attractive setting
at the proposed site for promotional purposes. They usually consist of perspective views complete with col-
ors and shading, although they may also contain nicely drawn elevation views with shadows and landscap-
ing (Figures 2.7A and B). Presentation drawings are therefore essentially selling tools, a means to sell the
building or project before it reaches the working-drawing stage, and are used in brochures and other out-
lets. This phase is also where the schematic design is developed, finalized, and approved by the client.
Working Drawings.
Also called project and constructions drawings, working drawings include all the drawings required by
the various trades to complete a project. These drawings are technical and are intended to furnish all
the necessary information required by a contractor to erect a structure. Working drawings show the size,
quantity, location, and relationship of the building components. They are typically prepared in consider-
able detail by the architect or engineer, and the amount of time and effort expended on them comprises
a major portion of the consultant’s design services.